Business Bulletin

Linnehan Kriner Speaks at Merrimack Valley Chamber Women in Business Lunch

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Jodi Linnehan Kriner, president of Central Catholic High School, plans to address Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce members during an upcoming Women in Business lunch at North Andover Historical Society. Linnehan Kriner is the featured speaker for lunch titled “Empower and Thrive.”

It takes place Friday, Sept. 25, from noon to 1:15 p.m., at North Andover Historical Society, 800 Mass Ave., North Andover. Admission is $35 each for members or $45 each for non-members and reservations may be made at MerrimackValleyChamber.com or by calling 978-686-0900.

Election Central

Mass. Voting Group Praises SCOTUS Decision as Win for Democracy

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By Kathryn Carley

Voting rights advocates in Massachusetts said the Supreme Court’s rejection of the Trump administration’s attempt to restrict mail ballots is a major win for democracy. The justices left in place a preliminary injunction preventing the U.S. Postal Service from withholding mail ballots from states refusing to upload personal voter data to a new and untested online portal. Celia Canavan, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts, said President Donald Trump has no authority to determine election rules. “This power remains in the Congress and within the states, and the United States Postal Service also does not have the right to change mail-in voting processes,” Canavan asserted. Canavan argued changes to mail-in ballots this close to the midterm elections would have created chaos for state officials but contended it may be the point.

Haverhill

Bradford Fire Station Undergoes Maintenance; Remains Fully in Service

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Haverhill’s Bradford Fire Station is getting a new ramp and driveway, but its equipment remains ready on a minute’s notice. Fire Chief Christopher Cesati said the yellow tape across the doors of the station is a bit misleading. “The concrete work in front of the doors is being done right now. The trucks are stationed out back so there’s still a fully operational station,” he said. The chief said the driveway itself at the South Main Street station will be repacked and surfaced next.

Haverhill

Relief from ‘Extreme Heat’ Focus of Haverhill, Groveland, Newburyport Review

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Haverhill, Groveland and Newburyport will serve as pilot communities for efforts to identify and combat extreme heat in the Merrimack Valley. The Merrimack Valley Planning Commission last week was awarded a $190,676 climate resilience grant under the state’s Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness program. The Haverhill-based agency will collect data throughout the Summer of 2027 and map how heat is dispersed through the three communities. “This investment will help MVPC and our municipal partners better understand how extreme heat affects our communities and translate that knowledge into practical, locally driven solutions,” said Merrimack Valley Planning Commission Executive Director Jerrard Whitten. The Planning Commission will work with such partners as Merrimack Valley Transit, known as MeVa, and WalkMassachusetts to understand how extreme heat impacts public transit systems and hear residents’ experiences with hotter summers.

Community Spotlight

Sarah’s Place Seeks Golfers, Sponsors for Friday Tournament

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Haverhill’s Sarah’s Place is recruiting golfers and sponsors for its 25th Annual Golf Tournament. Awards will be given for the man and woman with the longest drives and the closest to the pin. The winning team will be recognized as well as the most honest team. The fundraiser is Friday, Sept. 18, at Bradford Country Club, 201 Chadwick Road, Haverhill.

Business Bulletin

Institute Recognizes National Grid’s Storm Recovery Efforts Last Winter

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National Grid was recently awarded an Emergency Recovery Award from Edison Electric Institute for exceptional response to severe weather events last winter that caused widespread outages across Massachusetts. The company recounted harsh weather events. A powerful, February 2026 blizzard brought damaging winds and gusts exceeding 80 miles per hour, accompanied by heavy snowfall reaching depths of more than 36 inches in some locations. Persistent winds and snowfall rates exceeding two inches per hour created hazardous travel conditions, with more than 96,000 outages. A storm the following month featured widespread heavy rainfall, isolated thunderstorms and damaging southerly winds.

Community Spotlight

Groups Plans Auditions for ‘Trolls Jr.’ and ‘Little Shop of Horrors’

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Haverhill Performing Arts Workshop is holding auditions for its upcoming presentations of “Trolls Jr.” and “Little Shop of Horrors.”

Auditions take place Monday, Sept. 21, and Wednesday, Sept. 23, with 4-6 p.m. set aside for “Trolls Jr.” and 6-8 p.m. for “Little Shop of Horrors.” Both at Northern Essex Community College, D Building, Room D154, Haverhill. Nonprofit Haverhill Performing Arts Workshop, under the direction of Bobby Gariepy, is entering its second year of productions.

Haverhill

Public Meetings This Week: Conservation Commission Hears Margin St. Housing Plan, More

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The public has opportunities to shape policy this week as various Haverhill boards meet. In the interest of transparency in government, WHAV provides this list of upcoming meetings every week on air and online. Plans to demolish an existing single-family home on Margin Street in Haverhill and replace it with a three-family residence will be heard Thursday night by the Haverhill Conservation Commission. As WHAV reported, developer Francis J. Bevilacqua III last month was granted a special permit by the City Council to replace, what was described as, a vacant, dilapidated house at 16 Margin St. with three, side-by-side attached three-bedroom condominiums. Bevilacqua gave councilors an overview.